Making SQL select random column

[Seldimi]

I would like to make a code in PHP where it will selects a random column of a certain table in SQL and read its data ...
Is that simple ???

[buntine]

the folowing SQL query may work:

$sqlQuery = "SELECT * FROM tableName ORDER BY RAND() LIMIT 1";

Another method is to select all the rows from a table with the standard "SELECT * FROM tableName" query and then display one random row using PHP code.

[Black Vivi]

I aint used the RAND function in MySQL for ages, but as far as i can remember it's actually this:

SELECT RAND(columnName) FROM tableName

might be wrong tho

[buntine]

or you could try RAND(*)

[Seldimi]

OK, thanx
buntine can u explain that with the PHP you told ...
Can u post here the php code ???

[filburt1]

I don't think that you can select a random column, only random rows. However, you can use PHP to randomly pick one of the elements that fetch_array() returns.

[smoseley]

I think he means random row? (common mistake)

Buntine's answer will select a random row.

[tibberous]

Thanks buntine. I normally just get the whole thing, then grab the row with PHP, I'll garentee this is faster. Never knew you could do an order by Rand().

[Seldimi]

Look, I want to create a random image script that randomly selects an image and its url (located in mySQL) and display it to the user ...

[Seldimi]

Oops, I meant "row " aranoid: aranoid: aranoid: aranoid: